Bunker Hill discusses paying council salaries

Published 6:00 pm, Thursday, February 17, 2005

The Bunker Hill Village City Council discussed paying the mayor and council members a salary Tuesday but did not mention an actual pay scale.

If a salary is later approved, the city, which has a population of 3,654 residents and no commercial businesses, will become the only one of six Memorial Villages to compensate council members.

In Piney Point, Hedwig, Hunters Creek, Spring Valley and Hilshire, city council members are not paid, but they are reimbursed for any expenses associated with the job, such as travel, lodging and meals.

Bunker Hill City Administrator Ruthie Sager said rarely do council members ask to be reimbursed for expenses accumulated on the job.

I was a little bashful bringing this up, but now Im not, said Bunker Hill Mayor Bill Marshall, who placed the proposal on the agenda.##M:(full story)##

I used to think that it was nice for everyone to volunteer, Marshall said. (Now) I think its reasonable. I dont think its going over the line.

Marshall said he wants to gauge councils opinions on implementing a salary before moving forward with the proposal. Actual figures were not discussed, and the mayor said he doesnt know if the salaries should be as high as a few hundred dollars a month or as low as $1.

What Im trying to do is not focus on the numbers, Marshall said.

I think it should be more than the nominal $1, Councilman David Ellis said. Make it several hundred dollars a month or dont do it at all.

Sager said the city has a small staff of four employees, and council members help out regularly to ease the workload. Sager also pointed out that council members take on additional responsibilities, including serving on city boards and the village police and fire commissions.

All the council members help us to keep the staff as low as they are, Sager said.

Being a new council member, Im amazed at how much time it takes and whats going on, said Councilman Peter Tuters, who was elected last year.

No action was taken on the proposal, which will be taken up next month for possible approval. City Attorney John Olson said council would need to approve and implement the salaries before the May 7 election because it cant be introduced in the middle of an election cycle.

In other business, council:

Approved a $27,200 engineering design for the Caroline Trail drainage project. Estimated to cost between $450,000 and $460,000, the project will replace the current drainage system in the subdivision.

Signed an interlocal agreement between the city and Harris County for drainage improvements on a ditch on the west side of Blalock Road.

Adopted an ordinance establishing a speed limit in school zones during days when classes are in session from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Violation of the ordinance could result in a fine of as low as $1 and as high as $200.

Approved a two-year contract with Amegy Bank, formally Southwest Bank of Texas, to be the citys bank for deposited accounts.